Nothing to see here, America.

[Sunstone]

Apparently, Time thinks any effort to inform children, idiots, and Americans is misguided.

 

[lunamoth]

What about the ones on October 3 and 24 that Gjallahorn posted?

They are going to put on the cover what it takes to sell the magazine, and I would bet they do their marketing research. It's not Time's fault that Americans will prefer to buy pap.

 

[Sunstone]

There has been a hundred year long effort, beginning with Edward Bernays, to turn America from a nation of responsible citizens into a nation of mindless consumers. I think we're seeing the fruits of that effort.

 

[Jeremy Mason]

I love Dr. Kaku.
[youtube]NK0Y9j_CGgM[/youtube]
Dr. Michio Kaku America Has A Secret Weapon - YouTube

 

[Alceste]

Holy crap, there's a genius visa? Who knew.

 

[Alceste]

They are going to put on the cover what it takes to sell the magazine, and I would bet they do their marketing research. It's not Time's fault that Americans will prefer to buy pap.

Really? I don't know about that. Perhaps some appetites are better left unindulged.

 

[Falvlun]

The discontinuation of the Canadian edition and the decline in sales had nothing to do with the issue raised by the OP, however. The issue here is why someone made an editorial decision to dumb down the cover for distribution in the US. It seems that the editors thought the international cover would not appeal to Americans as much as the personal interest story "Why Anxiety Is Good for You". Was it because the editions went to press at different times? Not likely, since one of the banners on the front page of the US edition was "EGYPT: REVOLUTION REIGNITED". I don't know why anyone would want to buy a news magazine that headlined a non-news fluff story over one of the most important news events of recent weeks. Are they trying to destroy their sales?

This is spot-on.

It seems Americans are stuck in this self-propagating downward spiral of ignorance.

 

[Desert Snake]

I don't understand it. There are plenty of intelligent people in the USA. Why does it constantly seem like the media is treating them like they are something less?

There are book series that are released all over the world but in the USA the title or length (shorter books) and wordings are changed to appeal to Americans.

I don't understand it.

I don't think Americans are less intelligent than anyone else.

 

[Falvlun]

I don't think Americans are less intelligent than anyone else.

I do, however, think that we tend to be more lazy, apathetic, and ignorant than the general trend.

 

[Desert Snake]

I do, however, think that we tend to be more lazy, apathetic, and ignorant than the general trend.

Well, perhaps. I don't know. There are alot of non-Americans who fit that description too, so...

 

[Jeremy Mason]

I don't think Americans are less intelligent than anyone else.

Fast Facts

 

[Desert Snake]

Fast Facts

That's nice, but I'm talking about intelligence, not school test scores.

 

[Jeremy Mason]

That's nice, but I'm talking about intelligence, not school test scores.

How does one quantify intelligence?

 

[Desert Snake]

How does one quantify intelligence?

Don't know, but there are too many variables that screw up these international test score comparisons, IMO.
In any case I'm not surprised by those scores.

 

[Shermana]

Time knows most of its American readership comprises of Liberals...so....perhaps this says something about how they perceive American Liberals?

 

[Father Heathen]

I don't understand it. There are plenty of intelligent people in the USA. Why does it constantly seem like the media is treating them like they are something less?

There are book series that are released all over the world but in the USA the title or length (shorter books) and wordings are changed to appeal to Americans.

I don't understand it.

The problem is that American society (in general) have short attention spans and are woefully uninformed and apathetic, and are resistant to anything that might not mesh with their preconceived notions and simplistic, two-dimensional world view. They can't grasp something that can't be presented in black and white terms. Their interest and understanding of politics are limited to bumper sticker slogans. And the general public in the U.S. cares more about celebrity gossip, reality TV marriages and sports scores than they do about scientific discoveries and technological development. They've been groomed that way for decades, shaped into the ideal consumer and voter.

 

[Father Heathen]

Time knows most of its American readership comprises of Liberals...so....perhaps this says something about how they perceive American Liberals?

Except most of the developed world is liberal, so why would they treat American liberals different? Oh, wait. I know, it's because America is actually more conservative than Time's reader based outside the U.S.

 

[Gjallarhorn]

Don't know, but there are too many variables that screw up these international test score comparisons, IMO.
In any case I'm not surprised by those scores.

You made a claim and made no way to prove otherwise. Nicely done.

 

[Caladan]

There has been a hundred year long effort, beginning with Edward Bernays, to turn America from a nation of responsible citizens into a nation of mindless consumers. I think we're seeing the fruits of that effort.

I have a question though. how easy is it to turn responsible citizens to mindless consumers? would people who are what we may call responsible citizens be a human pool for such an experiment?

 

[Alceste]

I have a question though. how easy is it to turn responsible citizens to mindless consumers? would people who are what we may call responsible citizens be a human pool for such an experiment?

This is good watching and thoroughly answers your question:

:: Download Century of Self Episode 1: Happiness Machines for Free. Watch Century of Self Episode 1: Happiness Machines Online with Other Documentary Films and Free Movies. ::

There are 5 episodes. Good old BBC.